Home of the Year Winner
We are delighted to announce that our project ‘The Forge’ has won two national awards, Home of the Year and Best Conversion in The Daily Telegraph Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2020.
We are thrilled that the judges commented:
“This conversion and reimagining of a former blacksmith’s forge is an absolute triumph. There’s a wonderful forensic and sympathetic touch here, which sees layers of history unpacked while stitching in new contemporary elements with real skill and determination.”
“A masterclass in how to reinvent an ageing structure; it’s what we should all be doing in response to the climate change emergency.”
Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine - April 2021
Home of the Year - Winner
Best Conversion - Winner
10 Page feature in article ‘The Daily Telegraph Homebuilding & Renovating Awards’ - Read article here
The design for this conversion centred around the contrast between old and new - balancing the preservation of the industrial character of the old blacksmith's forge with creating a light, contemporary extension. So throughout the build, we focused on sensitive restoration of the original features, including preserving the timber beams, salvaging the original window frames, and the rebuilding of the brick forge into its original form. Where original materials could not be saved, new and reclaimed products sensitive to the building were used. The restored brick walls and industrial features contrast with the high ceilings, large windows, roof-lights and bifold doors in the modern extension, filled with natural light. To celebrate the union of the old and the new, a brass strip on the external wall and roof was chosen as a contemporary design feature and to reflect the building's metalwork past.
Internally, white walls are intended to draw focus to the building's historical features, such as the former external brick wall that now forms the internal spine running through the centre of the dwelling. This spine, while allowing the flow of open-plan living, subtly separates the living space from the kitchen and dining areas.
The external cladding of black corrugated metal was chosen to reflect the building's heritage as a blacksmith's, and also the local agricultural vernacular of the surrounding rural area. The uniform nature of the metal creates a simple profile which suited both the client’s budget and their love of modern aesthetics. The black metal extension was designed with the same roof pitch as the Grade II listed brick building, to give the impression of a shadow, complementing rather than competing with the converted former blacksmith's workshop. This also has the effect of visitors being surprised by the spacious, three-bedroom home inside, as the exterior view of the building focuses the eye on a small brick structure.
Although the small size of the plot (270sqm site area), proved logistically challenging during construction, the site allowed for two, triangular-shaped pockets of courtyard garden spaces to be created. The minimal black facade is disrupted only in a few carefully chosen places by large windows and roof-lights with subtle black frames. These windows frame select views of the small garden spaces from different angles. The gardens can be accessed from many of the living spaces, providing a sense of indoor-outdoor living.